I have owned three of recent production, and three extra barrels. They're crap, even as a novelty.
Two ('big bore' models) fired maybe 30% of the time, sometimes even less frequently in one chamber.
The .380 barrel (and original) was incredibly difficult to extract cartridges from, and nearly impossible to remove fired cases from, without removing the extractor from the assembly.
The third (standard model) is about 80% reliable with .22 LR, but with .22 WMR it'll only fire about 10% of the time.
I still own it. ...But I wouldn't buy another one, even for $50.
The only reason I still own this one is because I fixed the hammer and trigger. Out of the box, the hammer wouldn't lock back on one chamber (flashing interfering with the ratchet), and the trigger didn't always reset.
All extra barrels were even less reliable than the originals.
And Cobra shorted me one barrel and a firing pin conversion on my order - an issue that has STILL not been remedied, over a year later.
ALL frame/barrel combinations resulted in substantial peening of the chambers or piercing of primers. It was/is caused by poor alignment of the firing pins, as well as excessive firing pin length (which still doesn't help with light strikes).
The peening meant that extraction of rimfire cartridges started as difficult and progressed to impossible. I repaired the .22 LR and .22 WMR barrels with chamber irons twice each, and the cycle repeated.
But, most of all....
Cobra firearms come with a factory direct lifetime warranty. The warranty covers all owners of the firearm. If, at anytime you experience difficulties with your firearm you may send it to the factory for repair or service. All warranty claims should include the model, serial number and owners information in the packaging of the firearm being sent for service
http://www.cobrapistols.net/owners-warranty.asp
Six out of six is pretty hard to believe unless they had some sort of bad run. But they will make it good, and if the dealer was worth doing business he would have arranged the shipping for tye customers. Also thinking the company themselves would take care of a shipment for a problem like that with all the firearms the dealer got having problems.
...Cobra's guarantee and warranty are an absolute joke.
In nearly two years of trying to get them to answer the phone, I have only had someone pick up twice. ...Which is maybe 5%.
They NEVER return phone calls if you leave a message.
And IF you can get them to answer the phone, they'll "transfer you to a 'technical expert'" ... which just drops the call.
They do not respond to emails, ever.
If you do some searching on the internet, you'll find dozens and dozens of people that sent handguns in for repair, only to end up waiting 5 months, 9 months, or ever 12+ months before they saw it again (
if they ever saw the handgun again). And they come back just as bad as they went in.
And when I contacted the Salt Lake City police department last year, to file report, they pretty much told they didn't want to waste their time.
I even have two former (recent) employees of Cobra within my extended in-law network, and one of them provided me with an unpublished phone number for the office.
I got the same crap: "Oh, you have problems? Well, you called the wrong number. Let me transfer you to a 'technical expert'.... [click -- beep --- click --- dial tone]....." ...before I could say another word.
So, where I'm at with Cobra:
Stay away.
Crap guns.
Even worse service.
They owe me money or parts.
And even their employees think they're a sleazy, scheming, cheating, disgusting company.
